Tornado History
Jefferson Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Jefferson, Iowa. The records below identify 13 tornadoes from 1959 through 2017, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $28.2M, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Jefferson, Iowa
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.2 tornadoes per year (0.1/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 5 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F3 in Jefferson, Iowa with 0 deaths
1999 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 1980s had the most tornado activity (3 events)
Longest tornado: 27 miles in Jefferson, Iowa
Widest tornado: 250.0 yards in Jefferson, Iowa
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on Apr 8, 1999
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Jefferson, Iowa, May is the most active month with 5 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1999 was the most active year with 2 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1988 with at least $25.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Jefferson, Iowa.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 1959 | F3 | Jefferson, Iowa | 17.8 mi | 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 21, 1967 | F3 | Jefferson, Iowa | 0 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| May 8, 1988 | F2 | Jefferson, Iowa | 27 mi | 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25.0M |
| September 13, 1982 | F2 | Jefferson, Iowa | 13 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| November 9, 1975 | F2 | Jefferson, Iowa | 8.8 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K |
| April 2, 2006 | F1 | Jefferson, Iowa | 0.3 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| April 20, 1992 | F1 | Jefferson, Iowa | 2 mi | 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| May 17, 2017 | EF1 | Jefferson, Iowa | 1.27 mi | 25 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| May 10, 2003 | F0 | Jefferson, Iowa | 5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| May 10, 2003 | F0 | Jefferson, Iowa | 2.4 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| August 5, 1986 | F0 | Jefferson, Iowa | 0.1 mi | 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| April 8, 1999 | F0 | Jefferson, Iowa | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
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Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.